The Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF) political party was founded in August 1932 in Calgary at a conference uniting various farm, labour and socialist groups. James Shaver Woodsworth led the federal party from its inception until shortly before his death in 1942. In 1934 five members of the CCF were elected to the Saskatchewan Legislature, the first to sit in any legislature or parliament in Canada. In 1935, seven CCF members were elected to the House of Commons. In the 1945 federal election the CCF won 29 seats, 18 in Saskatchewan. The Moose Jaw Federal Constituency was represented by W. Ross Thatcher of the CCF party. In 1961 a merger between the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation and the Canadian Labour Congress created the New Democratic Party of Canada. Tommy Douglas, the long-time CCF Premier of Saskatchewan was elected the party’s first leader.